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Emergency Call-out Reports Missing hiker in the Soutpansberg Mountains 21 March 2010
A Code Yellow was issued at 18h05, followed by the Code Orange at 18h48 for Team 1 which consisted of T68 Simon (Field Team Leader); W97 Dagan; M95 Chris; G06 Hendrik; P06 Hendrik Snr; M96 Japie; H42 Bert, M33 Monty, V12 Peter; V58 Russell; H70 Francois and W38 Paul. (A81 Andrew and V93 Dean are also members of ORRU, but for this call-out their primary role would be MSAR.) Original plans were to rendezvous and then depart for Louis Trichardt at 01h00. An MSAR team would fly in with the SAAF and a combined search would begin at first light. These plans changed somewhat when it was ascertained that the SAAF Oryx helicopter would not be able to fly due to adverse conditions in the search area. It was decided that we would leave immediately, and transport the MSAR team with us. The Code Red was issued at 20h11 and we RV'ed at 21h30 at the Petroport filling station north of Pretoria. G06, M96 & H70 had driven to AFB Zwartkops to pick up the MSAR team before joining the rest of the convoy for the approximate 400km trip to Louis Trichardt. We arrived in Louis Trichardt at 02h00 and RV'ed with David Dennison, Deputy Director of EMS in Limpopo, and Wessie of the SAPS K9 SAR unit. Our convoy followed Wessie up to the radar station were we would set up JOC, and here we met with Johan and Christo of the SAAF Fire Department, manning the radar station. Johan briefed the team regarding their initial search and advised that the terrain was extremely hazardous and that any attempt at a hasty search in the dark would be dangerous. The decision was made to begin searching at first light and the JOC team set about planning the search. Four field teams were created, each comprising one of the local SAAF members, an MSAR member and at least two ORRU members. V93 Dean set to work on Google Earth, plotting search areas for the four teams (and it quickly became apparent that Dean is a wizard with Google Earth!) M96 Chris also plotted the area on Tracks4Africa and started trying to communicate with Dave's printer to get each team a print out. Johan and W97 Dagan left to go and meet with the subject's wife and gather any more information they could, and on their return the teams left JOC to begin the search in thick mist. M96 Japie had been tasked with relay duties, and was positioned on high ground that we knew had cell phone signal and we surmised should also have radio comms with all four teams and JOC. This was mostly the case with some intermittent problems which we later discovered were the result of us being positioned between two huge communications towers in the vicinity - completely obliterated by the mist earlier in the day. M95 Chris seemed to have the best comms of all at JOC and ever-efficiently handled most of the radio comms for the duration of the search. Dave Dennison had tasked the Limpopo EMS helicopter to assist and they made their way to our location only to have to land in a nearby field due to the mist, which came and went at an amazing pace - taking visibility from 500 metres one minute, to 5 metres the next. By 08h00 teams 1, 2 & 3 had nearly completed their searches and had all reported finding various footprints and dog tracks, which had been logged and plotted at JOC. Team 2 was tasked with driving to a nearby informal settlement to make enquiries, and Team 1 was instructed to return to JOC for further deployment. JOC had just begun planning to get teams to the bottom of the 200m sheer cliff faces in the area when a call came over the air from H42 Bert... "Break, Break! We have found the subject! We have found the subject". The time was 08h34. The ALS response team departed from JOC to assess the subject and provide any necessary assistance. After spending 22hours on the mountain, through a cold and damp night, our subject was dehydrated and tired, and had some scratches and bruises, but and was well enough to walk out with a little assistance from the team, to where they had left their vehicles. At this stage a large contingent of local farmers had arrived at JOC to assist with the search, and they were very relieved to hear that the subject had been located and was on his way to JOC. Team 4 arrived back at JOC with the subject almost an hour after he had been located and after a final assessment he and the two dogs were reunited with the family. M96 Japie was recalled from his relay position after notifying various key personnel at SAAF of the good news, and once all personnel were safely at JOC, the team debriefed and set about packing up for the long trek home. The team was invited to the neighbouring farm for breakfast before departing, and we were truly humbled by the trouble these people had gone to. A breakfast fit for royalty had been laid on with no expense spared, and after many speeches expressing gratitude, and prayers, and more speeches, we said our goodbyes and left in convoy for home. The Code Green was sent once all team members were home safely. A one thousand kilometre round trip but worth every minute to have a successful outcome such as this! My thanks to all those ORRU members who gave up their public holiday to join the team, to Johan and the SAAF team, Dave and the Limpopo EMS medics and heli crew, Wessie and Rudi from SAPS, and especially to the MSAR team for their camaraderie during the trip and their professional co-operation. Well Done to all! T68 Simon
Good day to you, Once again I wish to thank you guys for all the effort that you put into getting me back to the old lady and civilisation. I can only stand in awe at the commitment of you guys in the interest of a total stranger and a hard-headed one at that. If I weren't so headstrong, dumb and stupid, none of this would have been necessary. I have buggered up your long weekend as well as kept you away from family and friends. However, I can only thank the Lord above for committed people like you and let down my head in great shame for all the inconvenience caused. You guys are GREAT! Pleas also give my profound thanks to those of whom I do not have contact addresses who also assisted in the operation. Thank you once again from myself, the dogs and Engela. We are all in good shape and have been on telephone duty for the whole week from even strangers that I do not know who called and expressed their appreciation of your service to me. Regards, Dirk Hanekom, Engela, Driesie and Jasper.
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